Economic development in Pago Pago harbour, American Samoa

The American Samoa government will soon begin mapping ambitious plans for economic development, including a new marina, a boardwalk and restaurants, in the Pago Pago Bay Area.

The Department of Interior Office of Insular Affairs has awarded the American Samoa Government a US$350,000 grant to begin planning.

The director of commerce, Keniseli Lafaele, says in the past, one grant after another has been used to write up plans which just pile up and are not implemented.

But he says he has confidence that Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga will move on the plans for the harbour area.

A tourism master plan of 2010 proposed a promenade for the town area, with the Rainmaker Hotel as a point of attraction.

But territorial planner, Line Kruse, says since reviewing the tourism plan, they have determined that the Pago Pago harbor should be the focal point of economic development plans for the town area.

"We have decided that the jewel is not the Rainmaker, the Rainmaker is man-made. The jewel is actually what the Lord has blessed us with, and that's the Pago Pago harbour. Our Pago Pago harbour has the deepest and most secure harbour in the entire Pacific ocean."